Competence theory and research

Description

This course addresses the field of competence theory and research which has been developing strongly during the past decades. After being used in daily language the concept gradually entered professional discussions about teacher education, management development and corporate strategy. In recent years the concept is institutionalized in agreements such as the European and National Qualification Frameworks. There are however fundamentally different conceptualizations of the concept: competence can be conceived from the perspective of functionalistic behaviorism, integrated occupationalism and situated professionalism, all with important pitfalls. The different conceptual approaches will be elaborated on, and the main research studies that have been influential will be studied.

Furthermore, the course discusses how research can be conducted in current competence-based education and training contexts (CBET), the implications of conceptual choices for the measurement of competencies, relevant research questions in CBET, challenges in competence-based assessment and consequences for research questions and approaches.

Students can use this course to develop their own research at conceptual level, for research questions, discussion sections and/or research instruments.

Course objectives

After the course students:

are able to describe the genesis of the competence movement;

understand the main theoretical approaches in the field of competence theory;

are able to define competence standards and profiles of professionals and professions;

understand the research merits of competencies and the matrix of comprehensive competence-based (vocational) education;

are familiar with research opportunities and challenges of (authentic) competence-assessment;

can apply their insight in competence theory and research in different professional fields such as innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship;

present and defend a coherent vision on competence theory and research.

Requirements

The students should have an academic master degree, but no further requirements need to be fulfilled.

Meetings

The course will be taught to WASS (Wageningen School of Social Sciences) and ICO students. For WASS students the course will be 4 ECTS (112 hours) and for ICO students the course will be 100 hours. The WASS students will do an additional assignment which is linked to their PhD-project.

ICO students who want to participate in this course are requested to contact the WASS Office in advance (marcella.haan@wur.nl).

There will be 6 sessions. The first session is an introduction session; for the next four sessions student conduct assignments based on provided literature for the various course topics; the last session is dedicated to presentations of papers based on a final assignment. The session and final assignments can be done on an individual basis, but group work is also an option.

The themes of the sessions are the following:

Genesis of the competence movement; competence development in organisations (M. Mulder)

Competence standards, vocations and professions; Competence-profiling for vocational and professional education (M. Mulder)

Final session: Paper presentations - Integration of and discussion on the final assignment (all)

Assessment

Students' work on all assignments will be assessed, including the final presentation and contribution to the discussions. Students must pass all assignments to complete the course.

Literature

Several assignments will require different students to read different parts of the literature and share this with other students during the course meetings, to increase students' active use of the literature and discussion on the literature. This will be made very clear in the first meeting of the course (not all literature is always obligatory).

Genesis of the competence movement; competence development in organisations